Bethlehem HARB elects officers then signs off on signs

After re-electing Fred Bonsall as chairman and Philip Roeder as vice chairman, the Historical and Architectural Review Board got back to work Jan. 3 by looking over applications for signage for three small business in the historic district.

HARB quickly granted a certificate of appropriateness to Evan Blose of FastSigns to install an HDU sign for his client at 574 Main St. The logo for AblePay Health is to be carved into a wood-like foam plank and will hang from an existing bracket on the building’s façade. Blose agreed to the board’s stipulation that a pinstripe surround the logo. The antique white letters and red cross shaped graphic on a dark blue background were approved. AblePay Health is owned by John Fistner.

After presenting revised and more detailed signage proposals, Cara Paredes was able to achieve board approval for signs for two adjacent businesses owned by her husband Juan Carlos Paredes. The application for Urbano Mexican Kitchen & Bar at 526 and Peculiar Wine & Beer Shop at 520 Main St. had been tabled at the previously hearing.

Paredes was amenable to the requirement that the black pinstripes be moved in from the edges of both proposed blade signs. “Urbano Mexican Kitchen & Bar” would be printed in black over a warm granite-like background while “Peculiar Wine and Beer Shop” would appear in black on a faux cork background. One is to be installed on an existing bracket. The new bracket for the other sign cannot be drilled into the brick. It must be anchored in mortar.

The window and door logos for both establishments are to be somewhat reduced. The restaurant’s window signage is to be a brass color. The window decals for the beverage store is to be a light tan. The building is owned by David Klein Real Estate and was the former location of Little Italy on Main.

The Historical and Architectural Review Board meets the first Wednesday of every month to review all exterior changes proposed to buildings in the Bethlehem Historic District north of the Lehigh River. When a proposed project receives a certificate of appropriateness from the board, applicants must wait for City Council to vote on it before proceeding.